With Gary Mills busy behind the scenes building a squad capable of challenging for the title, Post Sport’s Rob Griffiths looks at the best signings ever made by Wrexham.

Over the next three weeks, Griffiths will pick the 20 best acquisitions made by the Dragons and there will also be a chance for our readers to pick their favourites too.

Today we take a look back at the career of Aly McGowan, a Scottish miner who was to enjoy 10 years in Wrexham and even be charged with trying to ‘control’ youngsters Joey Jones and Mickey Thomas.

Wrexham have a debt of gratitude to St Johnstone for allowing 25 players – including Aly McGowan – to leave on a free transfer in 1953.

McGowan was a miner when he signed for Wrexham in 1953 and gave sterling service to the club as a tough-tackling full-back. making the fifth number of appearances in the club’s history over 12 years.

Having begun his career in the local leagues around the Airdrie area, McGowan enjoyed two seasons in Perth with St Johnstone and was also capped by Scotland B in a match against Ireland at Windsor Park.

Allowed to leave the club on a free transfer in 1953, McGowan contacted his friend Tommy Bannan, who was playing at Wrexham and after impressing in a trial period was offered a contract by manager Peter Jackson.

During his time in North Wales McGowan went on to win three Welsh Cup winners medals, feature as part of the side which got to the last 16 of the inaugural League Cup, beating First Division Blackburn in the process, and lined up in the legendary FA Cup game against the Busby Babes of Manchester United which attracted Wrexham’s record attendance to the Racecourse. He even managed a couple of goals on the rare occasions that he was allowed over the half way line.

McGowan was forced to retire early after breaking his leg in a match at the Racecourse against Watford, but continued to serve the club as a groundsman and coach, and was even handed the tricky job of making the young Joey Jones and Mickey Thomas toe the line.